In this series we have explored a few different ways to study the bible. One way is through bible genres. These are categories of literature. The first genre we are going to explore is Law and History, sometimes it is called Narrative. Honestly, it's a little bit of all three.\
Narrative is just as it sounds, it is a narrative of a story or stories in the Bible.
The Law Genre include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
History is the history of the Israelites in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is the history of Jesus and the apostles. It includes Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. In the New Testament, Acts covers History.
Law is covered in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Law means that God is giving the Israelites commandments to live by.
We are going to explore a passage in Exodus and ask the following questions:
Where do I see God's plan of redemption?
How does God work in these narratives?
What do I learn about God's character?
The passage is:
The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "if your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name." Exodus 33:14-17
We learned in Parts 1 and 2 of this series that the first thing we need to do is figure out the context of this passage. To start, I read all of Chapter 33, but I still had didn't have clarity, so I went back further and read Chapter 32.
In Chapter 32 we learn the story of the Golden Calf. While Moses is on Mount Sanai with God receiving the 10 Commandments the people were restless and in fear because Moses had not come down for a very long time. Their fear caused them to ask Aaron, Moses' brother and second in command, to make them a Golden Calf to worship.
This was common in their culture, so they were reverting back to old ways of worshipping idols. I believe this practice made them feel as if they had some sort of control over their situation. Ironically, the 2nd commandment is "you shall not make idols" so instead of giving them control it just made consequences worse. Better to let go and let God.
This was the reason that God did not want to be in their presence any longer. In Exodus 33:3 God says, "Go to the land flowing with milk and honey but I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you along the way."
However, Moses pleads with the Lord to change His mind and go with them. Moses understands that the presence of the Lord is better, more important and more life sustaining than the cushiness of the Promise Land.
In God's great mercy He honors Moses' request and goes along with them to the Promise Land.
Where do we see God's plan of redemption? Redemption is the act of being saved. God saves the people from their own sin by showing them mercy and going along with them.
We also see earlier in Chapter 33 that God would drive out the people in the land that were already there. Since they don't have to fight for the land, this will save them a lot of hardship.
How does God work in these narratives? So again, driving out the people so the Israelites can settle easier is God at work. He's making a way for them, praise the Lord that our God always seems to make a way!
God is also leading them to the Promise Land. He wants to desert them, but He doesn't because He is so merciful.
What do I learn about God's character? In this Chapter it's easy to see that God is merciful, forgiving and patient.
We also see that by giving them 10 commandments He is showing the Israelites exactly how they are to live. He is righteous and wants His people to be righteous as well.
We can also infer that God always has a plan. Just like in this passage God will later show that He will not abandon us. He won't even abandon us when we are evil and deserve it. We know this because He later gives up His son to die for us on the cross.
Eventually, we don't have to ask to have God's presence with us because He gives us the Holy Spirit to be with us always. He is again showing that He will not abandon us or forsake us.
Application God called the Israelites a stiff-necked people, which essentially means 'stubborn'. In what ways are you stubborn about something that you know you should change to be more Christlike? What steps can you take to repent and change these ways?
Lord, you are righteous and Holy in all of your ways. Thank you that though we are sinful you rescue us again and again. Thank you that you never forsake us even when we are at our worst. We confess that we have work to do, and we aim to do better. Help us in our weakness. Help us remember that your grace is sufficient for us. In Jesus name we pray this, Amen.
I hope this helped you move forward in learning to spend time in your bible. If you have any questions, please contact me.
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